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Poli202 BYU Independent Study Midterm 1.
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Poli202 BYU Independent Study Midterm 1Understand the fundamental difference between classical-medieval and modern political
philosophy. - ANS-Classical philosophy was primarily concerned with the "Good," and
politics were closely tied with virtue and morality. Also was not accessible to those who
weren't philosophers. Modern philosophy is unconcerned with the good and is more a
question of function.
Understand the tension between the claims of truth and those of tolerance. - ANS-Truth
is unchanging and eternal, but not everyone knows or accepts it. Tolerance is being
respectful of others' lifestyles and choices while not condoning anything that goes
against eternal truths.
Know the distinction between equality by default and substantial equality. -
ANS-Equality by default says that we are all equal because nobody is better than
anyone else (moral relativism). Substantial equality says we are all equal because we
all have value and shared humanity.
Understand how equality by default thwarts true education. - ANS-There aren't eternal
truths in equality by default, so "your" knowledge isn't any better than "mine." It's all a
matter of opinion. Education is seen as purely utilitarian, not eternally important or
useful.
Understand how scientism promotes equality by default. - ANS-"Scientism" holds that
science is the only true form of reason, so that "whatever lies outside the scientific
method lies outside reason." When a relativistic man hears someone say that an action
of his is wrong, he responds by saying: To me it is good, and I determine what is true for
me . Whereas the scientistic expert refuses to endorse his second statement, he backs
him up on the key point by insisting that no one can know anything about values.
Know the three main stages of human rights or "the rights of man." - ANS-(1) the official
birth of the rights of man, or the moderate liberal version; (2) the ideological stage and
the subversion of the rights of man; and (3) the radicalization and the loss of substance
of the rights of man, or the extreme liberal version.
Understand the importance of studying modern political philosophy. - ANS-By putting in
question the separation between politics and philosophy, we begin to see the possibility
of understanding both these fields of inquiry in a more noble light. In fact, we may begin
to see them as essential to human nobility or excellence. Knowing something about the
,moral and political sea in which we are swimming (and thereby knowing something
about ourselves) would seem to be a task worthy of a human being—and maybe even
essential to the fullness of human existence.
How does Elder Oaks define the term "moral relativism"? - ANS-The philosophy that
holds that each person is free to choose for himself what is right and wrong
According to Philippe Bénéton (in Equality by Default ch. 1), what are the three stages
of the idea of the "rights of man"? - ANS-1: The moderate liberal version associated with
the American founding
2: The ideological subversion associated with the radical phase of the French
Revolution
3: The extreme liberal version prevalent today
According to Professor Hancock in Thinking Politically, what is the key difference
between ancient (or classical) political philosophy and modern political philosophy? -
ANS-Modern political philosophy discards the classical question of the good.
According to Bénéton (in the prologue of Equality by Default), what is the main obstacle
to true education in the contemporary world? - ANS-Knowledge has become separated
from life, and is seen as merely utilitarian.
Three Absolute Truths that Elder Oaks discusses in "Truth and Tolerance" - ANS-3: Our
tolerance and respect for others and their beliefs does not cause us to abandon our
commitment to the truths we understand and the covenants we have made.
According to Bénéton, what is the basis of "substantive" (or "substantial") equality? -
ANS-The Christian idea that all humans are worthy of God's sacrifice and/or the natural
sense represented in great literature that we share a common humanity.
Understand how medieval Christian thought left open the question of the relationship
between the City of God and the City of Man, and why both Luther and Machiavelli felt
they needed to resolve this problem - ANS-Jesus talked about heaven being "another
world," apart from this one. This introduced the idea of separation of church and state.
Earthly peace is seen as ministerial to heavenly peace, and so the Church defends the
lower, defective peace only "so far as may be permitted without detriment to true religion
and piety." The spiritual and the secular are distinct, but the latter is clearly answerable
to the higher purposes and thus higher authority of the former. This distinction, colored
by a clear sense of the superiority of spiritual to secular purposes, may be called the
, central feature of medieval political thought. But medieval theory did not arrive at any
final and
authoritative understanding of the institutional implications of man's spiritual destiny in
relation to those of his political condition.
Understand how the idea of "justification by faith alone" provided Luther the key to
solving this problem, and why Calvin added to this motto the phrase "and to the Glory of
God." - ANS-Luther cuts through this Gordian knot of medieval Christian thought
(spiritual is "high" and secular is "low") by radicalizing the basic Christian dichotomy and
in a way liberating the secular from the spiritual. Salvation, or the spiritual kingdom, is
radically inward, a matter of "conscience," "secret, spiritual, hidden" region dependent
on no human
power but entirely on the Word of Scripture. The kingdom of this world is wholly
"external;" it deals
with mortal life and with property. So complete is Luther's removal of the Kingdom of
God from the
Kingdom of the World that he proclaims the absolute uselessness of politics for true
believers, since the righteous do of themselves more than the law commands, attach no
intrinsic importance to the things of this world, and have no need of compulsion.
Understand the political implications of "justification by faith" for both Luther and Calvin.
- ANS-Now, one would expect this radical separation to imply a radical depreciation of
the political realm. But Luther avoids this consequence by shifting the account of the
purpose of politics entirely to the needs of the unchristian neighbor. Politics in no way
contributes to the spiritual purposes of Christians, but only to the secular needs of their
neighbors. Secular needs become authoritative for Christians as someone else's needs.
By this remarkable displacement of the question of purpose, Luther bypasses the logic
that
seemed, in Christendom, to necessitate the subordination, direct or indirect, of political
to spiritual authorities.
According to Professor Hancock (in Thinking Politically part two, ch. 2), Calvin's radical
break with classical moral and political philosophy consists of ________. - ANS-his
repudiation of the hierarchical view of nature and of human nature which makes it
possible to speak of what is "high" and "low"
In "The Limits of Secular Authority," how does Luther explain the Christian's duty to
uphold secular authority, even though a Christian has no need of it and must be willing
to "turn the other cheek" rather than demand justice under the law? - ANS-The Christian
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